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A long-delayed wintertime shelter for homeless men and women passed its final inspection and is
set to open on Monday evening, the Community Shelter Board said today.

Officials had hoped to open the temporary shelter, at 511 Industrial Mile Rd. in Franklin
Township, by Nov. 15. But its location next to a day-care center sparked controversy and legal
challenges by Creative Child Care Inc., which lost its bid to obtain a restraining order to halt
the opening.

The Franklin Township fire chief had refused to approve occupancy until all safety features,
including sprinklers and emergency lighting, were in place.

The YMCA of Central Ohio, which will operate the shelter, and shelter-board officials
conducted more than 40 meetings during recent months with neighborhood residents and business
owners, shelter-board spokeswoman Sara Loken said.

She said officials negotiated a good-neighbor agreement to address suggestions and concerns.

The 190-bed shelter is to operate during the winter months when demand for shelter exceeds
regular capacity. Officials said they expect to receive a temporary occupancy permit Monday morning
and open later that night.